Lockable ironing board



Dec. 7, 1937. c. A. RICH LOCKABLE IRONING BOARD Fi led Jan. 29, 1935 \N QR MN Patented Dec. 7, 1937 LOCKABLE IRONING BOARD Chester A. Rich, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Rich Pump & Ladder Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 29, 1935, Serial No. 3,936

16 Claims.

The present invention relates to an ironing board or like structure, of the collapsible type.

An object of the invention is to provide a collapsible ironing board or the like with an improved arrangement of constituents whereby the leg and brace structure may easily and conveniently be disposed in latched extended and collapsed positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch means for the leg and brace structure which is so formed and located as to be actuated without effort additional to that required for extending or setting up the leg and brace structure. Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated with a single latch element that performs the dual function of latching the leg and brace structure in both the extended and collapsed positions.

A further object of the'invention is to provide latching means which, in addition to the latching function, provide bracing means for other parts of the structure.

.The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in' the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom perspective View of the improved device of the invention. v

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a tension rod guide and stop which forms a detail of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental cross-sectional view taken on the Fig. 1 view through the handle 5, showing the latch element 6 in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the latch element 6, as

seen from the line 4-4.

The improved device includes the conventional table member I which has a front end B, a rear end 9 and an under surface It). Adjacent to the rear end of the table member there is fixed a bracket means 2 to which are pivoted at [3 and M the pair of rear legs l5 and I6, respectively. As is evident, the rear leg structure, is adapted to be moved from the operative or extended position shown in Fig. 1 to a position flat against the under surface of the board or table member,

in accordance with common practice.

The movement of the rear leg structure to the twc positions mentioned, may be accomplished by swinging the handle 5 through an arc of a circle,

the center of which circle is at the axis of the pivots ll and- E8 of a rear leg bracing means. The rear leg bracing means comprises a pair of toggle brace bars l9 and 2!] which have corresponding rear ends pivoted, as at 2| and 22, upon the rear 1egs l5 and. 16, respectively. At the pivot points 23 located near the upper ends of the toggle or brace bars, are pivoted the shorter toggle bars 24 and 25, said. bars being movable through a circle arc of which the common axis of pivots I? and I8 is a center. The pivots I! and I 8 may 5 be mounted upon the table member in any suitable manner, such as by means of a bracket element 26. From the foregoing, it will be understood that movement of the handle 5 through the circle are as stated, will either extend the rear leg 10 structure tothe position of Fig. 1, or collapse it to a position at which the legs 15 and 15 are disposed substantially in parallelism with the plane of the table member.

If desired, the rear legs may have associated therewith a means for spreading the legs apart as the legs are moved to the operative or extended position. Said means may comprise a pair of cross braces 21 and 28 having upper ends pivoted as at 29 and. 39, upon the rear legs at a 20 location near the rear leg pivots l3 and. M. The lower ends of the cross braces may be bent at an angle as at 3| and perforated to receive pivots 32 on thebraces l9 and 20, which pivots are spaced from the pivots 2| and 22 that connect 25 the braces l9 and 20 to their respective rear legs. The spacing between the adjacent pivots 2l--32 and 22-32 results in a compressive action upon the cross bars when the rear legs are extended to the operative position, but the rigidity of the 30.

cross bars enforces an outward movement of the legs away from one another when the legs are extended to the Fig. 1 position. It is to be understood that any other suitable means may be substituted for those disclosed herein, for effecting 35.

an automatic spreading action of the rear legs, the disclosure hereof showing but one form of several means for the purpose.

A front leg structure 33 is associated with the table member for supporting the front end there- 40 of, which structure may comprise a pair of leg members 34 and 35 connected together at one end 36 and spaced apart at the opposite or upper end so as to be pivoted at 31 and 38 upon a'b-racket 39 fixed to the under surface of the table member. 45 The upper end of each leg preferably is tapered or mitered as indicated at 40, to abut the under surface of the table member and limit movement of the front leg structure in a clock-wise direction of rotation about the pivots 31 and 38. Movement of the structure'in the opposite direction may be limited, when the board is set up for use, by a pair of tension rods or the like 4| and 42 the forward ends 43 of which are suitably pivoted relative to the lower or forward end of the front 5 leg structure, while the rear ends of said rods are headed at 44 to abut stops or brackets 45 carried by the lower ends of the toggle or brace bars l9 and 20. Each of the brackets 45 is perforated as at 46 to permit sliding movement of the tension rods relative to the brackets, upon movement of the leg structures to and from the extended position. It is to be understood that the rods 4|. and 42 will be tensioned when the toggle structure l9-20--2425 is disposed in the Fig. 1 position, in accordance with common practice.

Means are provided for latching the leg structures in both the extended and collapsed positions. Said means comprises a single latch element 6 secured by means of rivets, screws or other fasteners 41 to the under surface of the-table member. The latch may be of any approved or suitable construction, there being shown a preferable form in which there is a depending plate 48 bent slightly forwardly at 49, said plate having extensions or lugs 50 adapted to support a pivot A-movable latch .piece52 carries cooperative perforated lugs. 53. through which extend the pivot 5| so that the movable part 52 may have a slight rocking or rotating movement about said pivot. One end' 54 of the -movable part 52' is developed into'a hook inclined upwardly asshown, toengage the portion 49 of plate 48, while the opposite end of the movable memberis formed to provide a thumb piece or trip 55 to be'manually actuated for moving the member 52in a clockwise direction of rotationabout the pivot 5|. The movable memberzmay advantageouslybetreturned to the normal position indicated by means of a coiled spring 56.

Attention is directed'to the'fact that the trip portion 55 for the latch element is disposed closely adjacentto the handle 5 when the device is set upforuse, so thatone hand of the operator may manipulate both the latch'element' and, the actuating handle 5.

The single latch element above. described. is adapted to engage and hold either: one: of two latch'pieces'58 and 59, the latchypiece 58 being 3 carried by the toggle structure,.and preferably by the shorter toggle bars 24 and'25i The-latch piece 58 .not"only provides a; means for latching the toggle structure in the operative position, but it also bracesiand" strengthens thatportion of the toggle structure which comprises the members 5,23, 24 and 25. It is. believed readily evident that the structure'may be collapsed by means of a single operation which consists of depressing the-trip member 55- with the thumb while at the same time, and with the same hand, the operator: may swing the handle 5 downwardly and for-- wardly through a circle are about the pivots Upon moving the toggle structure toward the inoperative or collapsed position just'mentioned, the front leg structure 33' will be elevated toward the collapsed position by reason of contact with the brace members 21 and 28, thereby to advance the second latch piece 58 toward the latch element and into the latching position previously occupied by the first latch piece 585 The. front leg structure thereby will be held substantially against the undersurface' of thetable'member, in substantial parallelism with the plane thereof,

- while at the same time the said front leg structure'will abut the handle 5 and securely hold it against the under surface of the table member at a location near the point indicated at X. It is therefore evident that the latching of the front leg structure in the collapsed'position, serves to hold both the front leg structure and the rear leg structure in a completely collapsed condition against the under surface of the table member. The ironing board, therefore, may be moved about, stored or carried without a possibility of accidental release of the leg structures. Moreover, the improved device may be stored in a smaller space than heretofore.

The end 54 of the movable latching element 52 may be inclined as shown, or not, as desired, but by using proper inclination the latch pieces 53'and 59 will automatically assume a latched position behind the inclined end.

The perforation B0 in the bracket of Fig. 2 is merely for the purpose of receiving a rivet or other fastener El as disclosed in Fig. 1.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in the structural details of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An ironing board structure comprising in combination a table member having a front end, a rear end, and an under surface, a rear leg structure pivoted upon the table member for movement to a collapsed. position substantially flat against the under surface of the table member, and to an operative position at which it is extended relative to the: table member, a toggle means comprising 'a toggle bar and a rear leg bracing means adapted to be inclined relative to the table member when the rear leg structure is extended, a front leg structure for supporting'the front end of the table member and movable to extended and collapsed positions relative thereto, a latch'piece on the front leg structure, a disengageable latch'on the table'member located adjacent to the toggle means when the ironing board structure is disposed in the operative position and r arranged to engage the front leg latch piece in the collapsed position of the ironing board structure, and means to hold the front leg structure in the extended position during use of the ironing board.

2. An ironing board structure comprising in combination a table member having a front end, a rear end, and an under surface, a rear leg structure pivoted upon the table member for movement to a collapsed position substantially fiat against the under surface of the table member, and to an operative position at which it is extended relative to the table member, a rear leg bracing means adapted to be inclined relative to the table member when the rear leg structure is extended, means comprising a front leg structure for supporting the front end of the table member and movable to-extended and collapsed positions relative thereto, a latch piece on the rear leg bracing means, a second latch piece on the front leg structure, and a single latch member located to engage one latch piece when the leg structures are extended and to engage the other latch piece when the leg structures are collapsed, to hold said leg structures in said positions.

3. Ari. ironing board structure comprising in combination a table member having a front end, a rear end, and an under surface, a rear leg structure pivoted upon the table member for movement to a collapsed position substantially flat against the under surface of the table member, and to an operative position at which it is extended relative to the table member, a rear leg bracing means adapted to be inclined relative to the table member when the rear leg structure is extended, means comprising a front leg structure for supporting the front end of the table member and movable to extended and collapsed positions relative thereto, a latch piece on the rear leg bracing means, a second latch piece on the front leg structure, and a single latch member located to engage one latch piece when the leg structures are extended and to engage the other latch piece when the leg structures are collapsed, to hold said leg structures in said posi-,

tions, an actuating handle associated with the rear leg bracing means, and a trip for the latch member located so as to be close to the actuating handle when the device is set up for use, whereby one hand of the operator may manipulate both the actuating handle and the trip.

4. An ironing board structure comprising in combination a table member having a front end, a rear end, and an under surface, a rear leg structure pivoted upon the table member for movement to a collapsed position substantially flat against the under surface ofthe table member, and to an operative position at which it is extended relative to the table member, a rear leg bracing means adapted to be inclined relative to the table member when the rear leg structure is extended, a front leg structure for supporting the front end of the table member and movable to extended and collapsed positions relative thereto, a latch piece on the rear leg bracing means, a second latch piece on the front leg structure, and a single latch member located to engage one latch piece when the leg structures are extended and to engage the other latch piece when the leg structures are collapsed, to hold said leg structures in said positions, an actuating handle associated with the rear leg bracing means, and a trip for the latch member so located on the table member as to be close to the actuating handle when the ironing board is set up for use, whereby one hand of the operator may manipulate both the actuating handle and the trip, and means for limiting the spread between the'free ends of the front leg structure and the rear leg structure when extended to the operative position.

5. An ironing board structure comprising in combination a table member having a front end, a rear end, and an under surface, a pair of rear legs pivoted upon the table member for movement to a collapsed position substantially flat against the under surface of the table member, and to an operative position at which said legs are extended relative to the table member, a rear leg bracing means comprising a pair of toggle bars having corresponding rear ends pivoted upon the rear legs, said bars having corresponding front ends connected for unitary movement, a second pair of toggle bars each having opposite corresponding ends pivoted to the table member and to the upper ends of the first mentioned toggle bars, a transverse combination brace and latch piece connecting the said second pair of toggle bars, agcooperative latch member on the under face of the table member to engage and hold the said latch piece when the legs are in the extended position, a front leg structure for supporting the front end of the table member and movable to extended and collapsed positions relative thereto, a second latch piece on the front leg structure located to engage and be held by the latch member when the front leg structure is disposed in the collapsed position and means to hold the front leg structure in extended p0- sition during use of the ironing board.

6. An ironing board structure comprising in combination a table member having a front end, a rear end, and an under surface, a pair of rear legs pivoted upon the table member for movement to a collapsed position substantially fiat against the under surface of the table member,

and to an operative position at Which said legs are extended relative to the table member, a rear leg bracing means comprising a pair of toggle bars having corresponding rear ends pivoted upon the rear legs, said bars having corresponding front ends connected for unitary movement, a second pair of toggle bars each having opposite corresponding ends pivoted to the table member and to the upper ends of the first mentioned toggle bars, a transverse combination brace and latch piece connecting the said second pair of toggle bars, a cooperative latch member on, the under face of the table member to engage and hold the said latch piece when the legs are in the extended position, a front leg structure for supporting the front end of the table member and movable to extended and collapsed positions relative thereto, means to hold the front leg structure in extended position during use of the ironing board, a second latch piece on the front leg structure located to engage and be held by the latch member when the front leg structure is disposed in the collapsed position, and means to be abutted by the front leg structure when latched in the collapsed position, for holding the rear legs and both pairs of toggle bars in substantial parallelism with and close to the under surface of the table member.

7. An ironingboard structure comprising in combination a table member having a front end, a rear end, and an under surface, a pair of rear legs pivoted upon the table member for moveagainst the under surface of the table member and to an operative position at which said legs are extended from the plane of the table member, a rear leg bracing means comprising a pair of toggle bars having corresponding rear ends pivoted upon the rear legs, said bars having corresponding front ends connected for unitary movement, and a cooperative toggle part having opposite ends one of said ends being pivoted to the table member and the other of said ends being pivoted to the upper ends of the pair of toggle bars, a handle to manipulate the toggleoonstituted rear leg bracing means, and a latch piece thereon adjacent to the handle, a cooperative latch member on the under face of the table member to engage and hold said latch piece when the legs are in the extended position, a front leg structure for supporting the front end of the table member and movable to extended and collapsed positions relative thereto, means operative, upon setting up the ironing board for use, to hold the front leg structure in a rigid extended position, and a second latch piece on the front leg structure located to engage and be held by the aforesaid latch member when the front leg structure is disposed in the collapsed position.

8. An ironing board structure comprising in combination a table member having a front end, a rear end, and an under surface, a pair of rear legs pivoted upon the table member for move ment to a collapsed position substantially fiat against the under surface of the table member and to an operative position at which said legs are extended from the plane of the table member, a rear leg bracing means comprising a pair pivoted upon the rear legs, said bars having corresponding front ends connected for unitary movement, and a cooperative toggle part having opposite ends one of said ends being pivoted to the table member and the other of said ends being pivoted to the upper ends of the pair of toggle bars, a handle to manipulate the toggleconstituted rear leg bracing means, and a latch piece thereon adjacentto the handle, a cooperative latch member on the under face of the table member to engage and hold said latch piece when thelegs are in the extended position, means including a front leg structure for supporting the front end of the table member and movable to extended and collapsed positions relative thereto, and a second latch piece on the front leg structure located to engage and be held by the aforesaid latch member when the front leg structure isdisposed in the collapsed position, in abutment upon the toggle-manipulating handle.

9. An ironing board structure comprising in combination a table member having a front end, a rear end, and an under surface, a pair of rear legs pivoted upon the table member for movement to a collapsed position substantially flat against the under surface of the table member and to an operative position at which said legs are extended from the plane of the table mernber, a rear leg bracing means comprising a pair of toggle barslhaving corresponding rear ends pivoted upon the rear legs, said bars having corresponding front ends connected for unitary movement, and a cooperative toggle part having opposite ends one of said ends being pivoted to the table member and the other of said ends being pivoted to the upper ends of the pair of toggle bars, a handle to manipulate the toggle-constituted rear leg bracing means, and a latch piece thereon adjacent to the handle, a cooperative latch member on the under face of the table member to engage and hold said latch piece when the legs are in the extended position, an extendible pair of spaced front legs pivoted upon the table member and including means for maintaining said pair of legs in table-supporting position upon movement thereof to the extended position, and-a combination brace and latch piece connecting said legs and located to engage and be held by the aforesaid latch member when the K front legs are collapsed in substantial abutment against the rear leg bracing means.

10. An ironing board structure comprising in combination a table member having a front end, a rear end, and an under surface, a pair of rear v legs pivoted upon the table member for movement to a collapsed position substantially flat against the under surface of the table member and to an operative position at which said legs are extended from the plane of the table member, a rear leg bracing means comprising a pair oftoggle bars having corresponding rear ends pivoted upon the rear legs, said bars having corresponding front ends connected for unitary movement, and a cooperative toggle part having I opposite ends one of said ends being pivoted to the table member and the other of said ends being pivoted to the upper ends of the pair of toggle bars, a handle to manipulate the toggleconstituted rear leg bracing means, and a latch piece thereon adjacent to the handle, a cooperative latch member on the under face of the table member to engage and hold said latch piece when the legs are in the extended position, an extendible front leg structure including means for supporting the front end of the table memher and movable to a collapsed position relative thereto, a second latch piece on the front leg structure located to engage and be held by the aforesaid latch member when the front leg structure is disposed in the collapsed position, and a trip for the latch member located in such position as to be suficiently close to the aforesaid manipulating handle to provide for conjoint actuation of said handle and trip by one hand of an operator after the device is set up for use.

11. An ironing board structure comprising in combination a table member having a front end, a rear end, and an under surface, a pair of rear legs pivoted upon the table member for movement to a collapsed position substantially flat against the under surface of the table member and to an operative position at which said legs are extended from the plane of the table member, a rear leg bracing means comprising a pair of toggle bars having corresponding rear ends pivoted upon the rear legs, said bars having corresponding front ends connected for unitary movement, and a cooperative toggle part having opposite ends one of said ends being pivoted to the table member and the other of said ends being pivoted to the upper ends of the pair of toggle bars, a handle to manipulate the toggle-constituted rear leg bracing means, and a latch piece thereon adjacent to the handle, a cooperative latch member on the under face of the table member to engage and hold said latch piece when the legs are in the extended position, a front leg structure for supporting the front end of the table member and movable to extended and collapsed positions relative thereto, a second latch piece on the front leg structure located to engage and be held by the aforesaid latch member when the front leg structure is disposed in the collapsed position, and a trip for the latch member located in such position as to be sufficiently close to the aforesaid manipulating handle to provide for conjoint actuation of the handle and trip by one hand of an operator after the device is set up for use, and means for imparting substantial rigidity to the front and rear legs upon disposition thereof to the set up position.

12. In combination, a board having an under surface, a pair of legs pivoted to the board for movement to a collapsed position substantially flat against the under surface of the board, and to an operative position at which the legs are extended from the plane of the board, a toggle means comprising a toggle bar and a pair of leg braces, each of which braces has a rear end pivoted to a leg, and each of which has a forward end pivoted to the toggle bar, said forward ends of the braces being spaced apart, a transverse manipulating handle substantially spanning the space between the forward ends of the, braces, a latch piece on the toggle means, and a manually actuatable latch on the board for engaging said latch piece when the braces are in position to extend the legs to the operative position as stated, said latch including a finger piece located so as to be near the transverse handle when the toggle means is disposed to extend the legs, whereby an operator may simultaneously grasp the handle and actuate the finger piece of the latch with the use of but one hand.

13. In combination, a board having an under surface, a pair of legs pivoted to the board for leg, said braces having forward ends spaced apart, a manipulating handle transversely spanning the space between the forward ends of the leg braces, a toggle bar having one end pivoted to the table and a second end pivoted to one of said braces near its forward end, to guide the handle through an are when the handle is grasped and moved to swing the legs to and from the operative position, a latching element on the toggle bar, and a manually actuatable latch on the board for engaging said latching element when the braces are in position to extend the legs to the operative position as stated, said latch including a finger piece located so as to be near the transverse handle when the device is disposed in the operative position, whereby an operator may grasp the handle and actuate the finger piece of the actuatable latch simultaneously, with the use of but one hand.

14. In combination, a board having an under surface, a pair of legs pivoted to the board for movement to a collapsed position substantially flat against the under surface of the board, and to an operative position at which the legs are extended from the plane of the board, a toggle struc ture comprising a pair of spaced toggle arms and a pair of leg braces, each of which braces has a rear end pivoted to a leg, said braces having forward ends spaced apart and each pivoted to an end of a toggle arm, means pivoting the opposite ends of the toggle arms to the table, a manipulating handle on the toggle structure spanning the space included between the aforesaid elements of the toggle structure, said handle being movable through an arc to swing the legs to and from the operative position, a latching element on the toggle structure, and a manually actuatable latch on the board spring-urged for self-engagement with the latching element when the braces are positioned to extend the legs to the operative position as stated, said latch including a finger piece lo-' cated so as to be near the transverse handle when the device is disposed in the operative position,

whereby an operator may grasp the handle and I actuate the finger piece of the spring-urged latch simultaneously, with the use of but one hand, to release the toggle structure.

15. In combination, a board having an under surface, a pair of legs pivoted to the board for movement to a collapsed position substantially fiat against the under surface of the board, and to an operative positionat which the legs are extended from the plane of the board, a toggle structure comprising a pair of spaced toggle arms and a pair of leg braces, each of which braces has a rear end pivoted to a leg, said braces having forward ends spaced apart and each pivoted to an end of a toggle arm, means pivoting the opposite ends of the toggle arms to the table, a manipulating handle on the toggle structure spanning the space included between the aforesaid elements of the toggle structure, said handle being movable through wan to swing the legs to and from the operative position, a latching element on the toggle structure, and a manually actuatable latch on the board spring-urged for self-engagement with the latching element when the braces are positioned to extend the legs to the operative position as stated, said latch including a finger piece located so as to be near the transverse handle when the device is disposed in the operative position, whereby an operator may grasp the handle and actuate the finger piece of the springurged latch simultaneously, with the use of but one hand, to release the toggle structure, and means including the same manually actuatable latch engaging with a part movable with said pair of legs toward the collapsed position, for securing the legs in the collapsed position.

16. An ironing board structure comprising in combination a table member having a front end, a rear end, and an under surface, a rear leg structure pivoted upon the table member for movement from an extended position to a collapsed position substantially flat against the under surface of the table member, means including a toggle structure to be manipulated for disposing the rear leg structure to an extended position for operatively supporting the table member, said toggle structure comprising a forward part and a rear part hinged together, and having outer ends pivoted, respectively, to the table member and to the rear leg structure, a front leg pivoted to the table member near the rear end thereof, for movement to extended and collapsed positions relative to the table member, and toward and from the hinge connection of said toggle parts, means on the and thereby forced toward the under surface of the board, upon disposition of the front and rear legs to the collapsed state, and cooperative latch means on the board and front leg engageable for detachably securing the front leg to the table member while the front leg abuts said means on the toggle structure and forces it toward the table member for precluding accidental displacement of the rear leg structure from the collapsed position.

CHESTER A. RICH.

toggle structure to be contacted by the front leg I 

